ALPINE, N.J.—A borough family’s long-time nanny bilked them out of $37,000 over the summer of 2018, but was arrested last week after investigators caught up to her, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo said.
Gabriella Durso, 26, of Fort Lee, was arrested May 16 at her home, Calo said. She’s charged with the third degree crimes of theft by deception (more than $500 and less than $75,000), forgery, unauthorized use of a credit card and uttering.
The residents first reported suspicions to Alpine Police Department in November 2018, Calo said.
“Based on this information, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit joined the investigation, which revealed that during the summer of 2018, Durso forged over 60 checks belonging to the victims and deposited them into her personal bank account,” Calo said. “A victim’s credit card was also used by Durso, without authorization, to purchase personal items on multiple occasions.”
She’s due in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack on May 29.
“Acting Prosecutor Dennis Calo states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and thanks the Alpine and Fort Lee Police Departments for their assistance,” the BCPO said.